Neuralink has successfully implanted a brain implant in its inaugural human patient, marking a significant milestone in the development of the technology. Elon Musk, the CEO of Neuralink, has been instrumental in the project’s progress.
The neurotechnology company, co-founded by Elon Musk in 2016, is dedicated to establishing direct communication interfaces between the brain and computers. The primary objective is to enhance human capabilities significantly, address neurological disorders such as ALS or Parkinson’s, and eventually achieve a mutually beneficial relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.
Elon Musk shared the news that the first human recipient of a Neuralink implant underwent the procedure and is currently in a successful recovery. Musk mentioned that initial results indicate promising neuron spike detection.
In the previous year, Neuralink reported obtaining approval from US regulatory authorities to conduct tests involving their brain implants on human subjects. The core technology of Neuralink revolves around an implant called the “Link,” a device roughly the size of five stacked coins, which is surgically placed inside the human brain.
According to Pitchbook, a data company, Neuralink, based in California, had over 400 employees last year and secured funding of at least $363 million.
Despite Elon Musk often being in the spotlight, he is not the sole participant in advancing this field, officially referred to as brain-machine or brain-computer interface research. Numerous entities are actively engaged in making progress in this domain.
Neuralink’s objective is to enhance human capabilities significantly and address neurological disorders such as ALS and Parkinson’s. The company aspires to establish a potential symbiotic relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. The technology is designed to facilitate direct control of devices, such as phones or computers, through seamless thought-based commands.
The technology enables users to exert control over their phones or computers, and by extension, nearly any device, solely through cognitive processes. Elon Musk further emphasized that the initial beneficiaries of this technology would be individuals who have experienced limb loss or impairment. He elaborated on the potential by envisioning a scenario where individuals, like the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, could communicate at a pace surpassing that of a skilled typist or auctioneer. This, Musk stated, is the ultimate objective of the technology.
